Masala Art Interior Build-Out Underway

Interior build-out of the new Waterfront Station Indian restaurant Masala Art on 4th Street will begin this week according to the proprietor Atul Bloha. Exterior work has been underway since November. It will take between 10 and 12 weeks to finish the interior, which puts the opening of the restaurant sometime in mid- to late-May, perhaps by Memorial Day weekend. If this schedule holds out, it would be the shortest amount of time to open a restaurant at Waterfront Station (with the exception perhaps of Subway). Both Station 4 and Z-Burger experienced significant delays before their restaurants opened. While the menu for the Waterfront Station Masala Art is still being worked out, there will be dishes that differ from the Tenleytown location. 

The Waterfront Station Masala Art will be much larger than the Tenleytown one – there will be seating for 130 people, including seats at the bar and lounge area. For comparison purposes, Station 4 has seating for 210 people including outdoor seating. Masala Art will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, along with bar fare. More details will likely be forthcoming when the restaurateur goes before the ABC commission to get a liquor license. Job positions that will be available include waiters, bartenders, kitchen helpers, food runners, and bar backs. Waiters will need at least two years of experience in fine dining with a customer-first approach to their job. Resumes and references should be sent to masalaartsw@gmail.com.

Masala Art to Open at Waterfront Station

 

I just learned from ANC 6D Commissioner McBee that Masala Art will be opening at Waterfront Station and will take up the two vacant storefronts at 1101 4th Street, north of Subway. Masala Art is an Indian restaurant by Atul Bhola, the former manager of Heritage India, with a location in Tenleytown that opened in 2009.  According to a review by The Washington Post's Tom Sietsema, the Tenleytown restaurant seats 45. The Tenleytown location is open daily for lunch & dinner and it also offers free delivery.  Here's a look at the menu. Masala Art will join Station 4, Z-Burger, and Subway as the fourth restaurant to open at Waterfront Station, in addition to Safeway, CVS, and Waterfront Cleaners. There are still two vacant retail spaces available - one each at 1101 and 1100 4th Street.  I’ll share more details on Masala Art as I learn them.

SWNA Holiday Party at Station 4

A Few Quick Items: Sunday Jazz Brunch at Station 4, Neighborhood Watch Created, L'Enfant Plaza Community Night, Marina Charrette Recap

- Station 4 is now offering a Jazz Brunch on Sundays. Defractions Jazz Band will perform each Sunday from 12pm-3pm. Brunch is served at the restaurant on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am - 3pm.

- A Neighborhood Watch program is being organized for ANC 6D 01 (bounded by 4th Street to the east, 9th Street to the west, Maine Avenue/M Street to the south and the Southwest freeway to the north) by resident Candice Graham in response to the recent spike in crime in the neighborhood. To learn more about the Neighborhood Watch, there will be a happy hour this Friday at Station 4 at 7pm. 

- On Tuesday, December 13 from 6pm - 8pm, JBG will host L'Enfant Plaza Community Night, where any resident of ANC 6D can get a chance to sample some of the new restaurants that have opened recently at the L'Enfant Plaza food court. There will be free food (JBG will provide $15 gift cards good at any of their restaurants or retailers, including Potbelly, Au Bon Pain, Roti Mediterranean Grill, Starbucks, Moe's Southwest Grill, Frozen Yogurt Indulgence, Hallmark, and Gateway Newstands). Parking will also be free (JBG will provide parking validation).

- The Gangplank Slipholders' Association gives a recap of a charrette that occurred on November 15 to help design the new marina at The Wharf that was convened by Hoffman Madison Waterfront. Over 50 slipholders attended the 2.5-hour meeting at the Harbor Patrol.

A Few Quick Items: New Website Launched for The Southwester, Station 4 Leads SW Revival, United Eyes Baltimore, Bellevue Library Controversy

- A new website was recently launched for The Southwester, which allows readers to view articles from the latest issue of the paper without having to download a PDF (although that option is still available). Readers are allowed to leave comments as well. Although a few kinks still need to be worked out on the new website (i.e. article formatting), it is moving the paper in the right direction.

- The Hill writes a review on Station 4, which opened over four months ago at Waterfront Station. According to the article, the most popular item on the menu is the crab cake. The article mentions that recent events at the restaurant include Neighborhood Appreciation Night, prix fixe lunch ($18) & dinner ($29)specials. Also, there were "True Blood" themed nights leading up to Halloween.

- According to The Washington Post and The Examiner, MLS has sent out surveys to Baltimore area residents gauging their interest in the possibility of DC United moving to the Westport area of Baltimore City. From the Post article:

United has spent all 16 MLS seasons in Washington but club officials have said playing at 50-year-old RFK is not economically viable. Talks with D.C. officials have shown no signs of progress. Buzzard Point in Southwest D.C., near Nationals Park, has been the club’s primary focus. Previous negotiations, involving Poplar Point in Anacostia and then Prince George’s County in Maryland, collapsed. 

- The Washington Post reports on the controversy over the naming of the new David Adjaye-designed library rising along Atlantic Street in Bellevue.  The DC Public Library Board recommended earlier this year that the library should be named Bellevue, after the neighborhood in which it's located (the previous library was called Washington Highlands, which was named after a neighborhood in SE). However, Mayor Gray supports the proposal to name it after William Lockridge, a Ward 8 activist and member of the State Education Board who died earlier this year. The DC Council held a hearing last month to discuss the naming of the library, but according to the article, Ward 8 Council member Barry has agreed to delay the renaming bill for two weeks in order to hear what the community has to say before making a decision.

A Few Quick Items: MLK Memorial Dedication, Nationals Neighborhood Game, Mixed Reviews for Station 4, L'Enfant Plaza Office Building for Sale

- On Wednesday, Mayor Gray announced a list of events leading up to the dedication ceremony of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial along the Tidal Basin. Most of the events will take place at the MLK Library downtown, but on Tuesday, August 23rd, DC residents will get to tour the memorial from 8am to 8pm - days before the official dedication. Timed tickets will be distributed to tour the memorial. Stay tuned for details on how to receive those tickets. The official dedication ceremony will take place on August 28th at 11am. Prior to the dedication, there will be a musical tribute to Dr. King from 10-11am and a concert from 2-4pm. All three events are free and open to the public. In addition, the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation has a slew of other events planned leading up to the dedication.

- August 25 is the make-up date for the Nationals Neighborhood Game at Nationals Park, which was rescheduled due to a rain-out from April 16th. Locals will be singing the national anthem, throwing the first pitch, and saying "play ball!". There are some free tickets available, so contact your ANC 6D commissioner or SWNA representative for details.

- The Washington Post's food critic Tom Sietsema recently wrote a review of Station 4 and it wasn't a good one. Here is a snippet:

Precious little of that magic surfaced in a recent dinner at Station 4, which started with breadsticks flavored with dried black olives and continued with a riff on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich using almonds, tomato jelly, foie gras and brioche. (Imagine really sweet French toast with some meat in each bite.) [Orlando] Amaro's "San Francisco style" cioppino is something no Bay Area resident would recognize as the classic robust seafood stew. "At least the kitchen didn't overcook the seafood," said the optimist at the table.

A waiter talks up the octopus, and we follow his lead. The herb-marinated, char-grilled seafood with potato confit cooked in duck fat and a trail of smoked paprika mayonnaise is the best thing we eat all night.

Station 4's pizza may be the worst. The pie is so without charm, we leave all but two slices behind.

Come to think of it, the previously frozen french fries, supposedly cooked in duck fat but revealing no such sign, are mediocre, too. Pappardelle with short ribs, thick and heavy, ignore the reality show outside, where the thermometer is pushing triple digits. A side dish of Brussels sprouts (hey, chef, it's summer!) is overcooked.

Meanwhile, it seems Metromix went to a completely different restaurant.  Here is some of what they had to say about Station 4:

When handpicking the chef for his new modern American restaurant Station 4, owner Med Lahlou decided go for a more nuevo route than new. And the results have been spectacular. Famed Venezuelan chef Orlando Amaro—whose Blue Moon has been named one of Miami’s top restaurants—has added his own flair in his signature dishes.

The restaurant’s location is a few blocks from the Southwest Waterfront (and across the street from the Metro station of the same name), and as you’d imagine seafood plays a key role in the menu. Amaro’s charred octopus is an excellent choice from sea, with potato confit, smoked paprika aioli and tomato-feta tartar. The combination makes for a succulent and crispy texture to the octopus.

Other excellent seafood options at the restaurant are the San Francisco-style cioppino—made with fresh crab, shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari in a saffron-tomato broth and served with a toasted baguette—as well as the sautéed calamari served with lemon-oil tapenade and squid ink vinaigrette.

There's only one way to find out which of these reviews is more correct...go check it out for yourself!

-  It was reported last week in the Washington Business Journal that 950 L'Enfant Plaza was put on the market by Heyman Properties. The office building is the south building at the plaza and is one of the buildings not owned by JBG (the other is the USPS headquarters), which is in the midst of renovating the retail center and plans to build a hotel, office, and maybe apartments.

A Few Quick Items: Story on L'Enfant Plaza Makeover, Station 4 "Grand Opening" Tomorrow, New & Expanded Capital Bikeshare Stations, Corona Movie Nights on Wednesdays in August

- In this week's Capital Business, there's a story about the renovation underway at L'Enfant Plaza's retail corridor. As you already know, the food court area was completed this spring and since then, Potbelly, Roti Mediterranean Grill, and more recently Au Bon Pain have opened. Below is a description of what is to come at L'Enfant Plaza, according to the article:

“It’s very heavy architecture,” said Britt Snider, JBG development officer. “We’re trying to lighten it up so it doesn’t feel so intimidating.”

Architecture firm SmithGroup is revamping the space with modern birch accents, recess lighting and a red, white and gray color palette, carried throughout the decor and flooring.

The retail redevelopment is part of a larger renovation and expansion effort taking place at the complex, composed of a 372-room hotel and two office buildings in Southwest Washington. Plans call for a 234-room Homewood Suites, 500,000 square feet of more office space and, among other things, a make-over for the existing hotel rooms.

Snider said the company took the paltry after-hours options into consideration in planning the second phase of the retail redevelopment. Casual dining restaurants are envisioned for the west wing of the retail promenade, where demolition is underway with completion slated for early 2013.

“The true test of this transformation will be whether we see people after work or on the weekends,” Snider said.

As much as JBG wants to create a vibrant late-night atmosphere, he said the company is keen on catering to the needs of the daytime population — more than 28,000 workers are within a half-mile of the complex. A smattering of business-wear boutiques will be sprinkled along the corridor off the food court, while a daycare and gym are being considered.

Besides the restaurants mentioned above, leases have been signed for a post office, CVS, McDonald's, Hallmark, Gourmet Too, Moe's, Mama Ilardo's, F.Y.I., Gateway Newstands, and Starbucks. In addition, a 2-story glass atrium will be built over the courtyard that will introduce more natural light to the retail corridor and serve as its grand entrance.   

Rendering courtesy of SmithGroup

- Station 4 will have its "Grand Opening" tomorrow after having its "Soft Opening" back on June 26. The restaurant has been open daily since then but the grand opening is more of a celebration than anything else. The grand opening will be from 5-8pm and reservations are recommended.

- DDOT announced last week that Capital Bikeshare will be expanding this fall with 32 new stations and 18 existing stations will be expanded.  Southwest will receive two new stations - located at 4th & E Street and across the street from the Air & Space Museum at Independence & Maryland Avenue (at 6th Street). In addition, the Waterfront Station and 7th Street Landing stations will be expanded. Earlier this year, the 12th Street and Independence Avenue station was expanded.

- Phillips Flagship and Cantina Marina will host Corona Movie Nights on Wednesdays this month, sponsored by On Tap Magazine. The movies will be aired on the patio areas of the restaurants at 8pm. Phillips will show "Office Space" on August 3rd and "Dinner for Schmucks" on August 10th, while Cantina Marina will show "The Hangover" on August 17th and "Wedding Crashers" on August 24th. The movie nights are free, but RSVP to receive a free Corona and at the end of the month, a raffle will be held and the winner receives the TV used to show the movies.

Photos from Wednesday's Anniversary Celebration

Over 40 people came to Station 4 for happy hour on Wednesday evening to help celebrate the 3rd anniversary of Southwest...The Little Quadrant That Could. The actual anniversary of the blog took place on June 4, but I wanted to have the happy hour at Station 4 and since the restaurant opening was delayed, the anniversary celebration took place later than expected. Thanks to everyone who stopped by! Below are a few photos from the happy hour.

The happy hour even drew fans from Capitol Hill and Bethesda!



One of these people doesn't read this blog (but I don't hold it against her).



Gangplank Slipholders Association Jason Kopp approves of the anniversary cake (especially the boat).

 

Potomac Place Tower residents represent!




I finally got from behind the camera grudgingly (but I only do it for anniversary celebrations).

Station 4 is Finally Open!

After what seemed to be eternity, yesterday at 5pm was the grand opening of Station 4.  There was some initial confusion about whether reservations were needed to eat at the restaurant.  In fact, some people left when they were initially told they couldn't eat unless they made a reservation ahead of time. It turns out that those who decided to eat at the bar area didn't need reservations and could order food in addition to drinks.  Service was a bit slow, which was expected since it was opening night and the restaurant was packed.  However, the food (once it did arrive) was very good. I asked several people how their food was and the sweet & sour pizza, cioppino, crab cakes, and spicy tuna cubes received high marks. I had the duck spring rolls (see above) and they were also good. The menu by Spanish chef Orlando Amaro is now on their website.

Welcome to the newest restaurant in Southwest!

It seems that the general consensus from patrons last night was they were glad a new restaurant is in the neighborhood; however, they weren't sure what kind of vibe or audience Station 4 is going after. Jazz and Sinatra was playing in the sound system, and along with the decor, gave an aura of swankiness. I found the restroom area to be a bit odd - several people were confused about whether the restrooms were unisex since there were no visible signs of which side was for men vs. women. The paper towel dispensers by the sinks are positioned very low and the astroturf on the walls in that area were curious. 



The outdoor terrace has several tables available for people-watching.



Will Station 4 be primarily a "before the show" dinner spot for Arena Stage patrons? Will locals adopt it as the neighborhood bar, despite not having happy hour specials?  Only time will tell, but I'm sure the operators of Station 4 hope there will be a full house every night as it was on Sunday evening.  The Southwest Playground Project folks must be pleased about the turnout last night too, since 20% of proceeds went to their efforts to build a playground in Southwest.

Several Southwesters turned out for opening night at Station 4

Here's a reminder that my 3rd Anniversary happy hour has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 6th from 5:30-8:30pm at Station 4.  We will be located in the lounge area to the right of the main entrance by the bar - just look for a balloon.  I hope you can make it and there will be cake!

Blog Happy Hour Postponed/Station 4 to Open on Sunday

Sorry for the late notice (although I did Tweet it on Monday), but unfortunately, tonight's happy hour has been postponed since Station 4 hasn't opened yet.  The rescheduled happy hour date is Wednesday, July 6 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm.  I hope you can make it on the new date!

Update: Station 4 will have its grand opening on Sunday, June 26 at 5pm.  20% of proceeds from that evening will go towards the Southwest Playground Project.

Waterfront Station Retail Update

If you walked down to Station 4 yesterday hoping to have a drink or grab a bite to eat, you may have been disappointed since the highly anticipated restaurant has not opened yet.  However, the restaurant received its Certificate of Occupancy earlier this week, so the opening must be imminent! The menu is still being tweaked, so it is not available yet. Below are the hours of operation and meal times:

Hours of Operation

M-Th: 11am - 2am

F: 11am - 3am

Sa: 10am - 3am

Su: 10am - 2am

Meal Times

Brunch: 10am - 3pm (Saturday & Sunday)

Lunch: 11am - 5pm

Dinner: 5pm - 11pm

Late Night: 11pm - 1 hour before close

As I mentioned last week, Z-Burger is between 2 and 3 months away from opening in their space next to Station 4. Expensive upgrades to the space have caused delays.

At Monday's ANC 6D meeting, Gordon Fraley from Waterfront Associates told the commissioners that the existing retailers at Waterfront Station have been doing well since opening up shop in 2010. Also, he mentioned that CVS has plans to make some upgrades to their space, including the addition of self-checkout lanes. It was confirmed that TD Bank will open a branch at Waterfront Station just to the north of Station 4. TD Bank has been expanding in the DC metro area and most of their branches are open 7 days a week. No timetable for when the bank will open is available. That leaves three retail spaces left to lease - the green-framed space at 1100 4th Street and two spots at 1101 4th Street next to Subway. The landlord is in discussions with a potential tenant at the 1100 4th Street space. I was told several months ago that an AT&T Wireless store was coming, but I haven't heard any more about it since.

Station 4 May Open by Next Week!

It's been a momentous week so far over at Station 4.  First, the brown paper covering the windows of the restaurant was removed, revealing its swanky interior. Then, outdoor furniture was positioned in the patio area.  Now, it has been tweeting up a storm today.  A couple of those tweets reveal what Southwesters have been waiting to hear for over a year:

@GPSADC @swtlqtc @MrGChristopher @tomjleonard Thanks for mentions - the official opening will be next week - check back for details

and

@MrGChristopher oh no! Well rumor has it that Monday will be go time but we'll be here for you on Thursday #WorkHardPlayHarder

Station 4 is located at 1101 4th Street, across the street from the Waterfront Station Safeway, and is owned by the same folks who operate Ulah Bistro, Tunnicliff's Tavern, Bullfeathers, and Stoney's.  The menu isn't available on their website yet, but the restaurant will be an American bistro-style estabilshment.  Recycled materials were used to create the interior, which cost about $1 million and according to the Hill Rag, it was designed by DC-based demian\wilbur\architects with seating for 210.

I'm meeting with the owner tomorrow to go over details of the anniversary happy hour I'm planning (hopefully for next week) and I'll let you know the date once it's firm.

Update: The owner told me that Station 4 will open on Thursday, June 16. Also, the anniversary happy hour will be on Wednesday, June 22 from 5:30-8:30pm in the lounge area of Station 4 (to the right of the front entrance).  I hope you can stop by and help celebrate!

Update #2: Thrillist describes Station 4 as:

a swanky bistro serving up "global cuisine" from a chef late of Barcelona's molecular gastronomy standout El Bulli, and boasts a 40ft gold-painted bar, columns and walls shimmering with black river stones, pushpin leather couches, and teardrop-crystal chandeliers, meaning they've done horrible, horrible things to less murderous chandeliers.

Also, to answer the question about Z-Burger, the owner told me last week that it will open in 2 1/2 months and has been delayed because of an expensive equipment upgrade needed for the restaurant.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Lightman

Sneak Peek Photos of Station 4

 

 Last night, Andrew Lightman, the editor of the Hill Rag and SW resident, got a tour of Station 4 and was kind enough to pass along some photos he took of the restaurant.  He invited me to come along, but I had a prior engagement and unfortunately couldn't attend. As you can see from the photos, there are a variety of seating types in the restaurant.  Also, reader Sylvia noticed yesterday that outdoor seating was set up in the patio and it appears to be wicker furniture. Andrew notes that the bar and indoor lounge area are still under construction and vendor issues have delayed the restaurant's opening.  If you haven't done so already, make your guess of the restaurant's opening date in the comments.



The partition separates the main seating area from the bar.





Here are some cool red seats along the still-papered up windows.





Family style dining area.



Proprietor Med Lahlou in front of the gas fireplace.



Station 4 News (or Lack Thereof)

I receive comments and emails almost daily from readers asking about when Station 4 will open. If I had more news about the highly anticipated neighborhood restaurant I’d most certainly share it with you all. However, I don’t. I’ve tried contacting the manager for an update, but there’s been radio silence so far. What I do know is the following:

The restaurant’s website states that Station 4 will now open in May – previously, it was winter 2011. Since winter 2011 has come and gone, the date was changed to May. Word on the street earlier this month was the owner was aiming for a May 15th opening, however, this latest opening date estimate has passed as well. I’ve been told so many opening dates (ranging from August 2010 to last month) I will no longer believe anything until I see food being served inside the restaurant or on the patio for paying customers.

As I tweeted last week, a peek inside the restaurant shows most of the furniture is installed and it looks like it is almost ready to open. Above is a grainy photo I snapped with my camera phone from that evening. Reader Sylvia recently commented there was a “For Hire” ad taken out on Craigslist last month. That is a good sign that the restaurant will open soon. Here are a few indicators I will look for that will assure me that Station 4’s arrival in Southwest is imminent: 

1. Once a sign for the restaurant is installed outside its front door. When Subway and Waterfront Cleaners put up their respective signage, those establishments opened within a matter of days.
2. Station 4’s website shows a menu.
3. Furniture is installed in the patio outside.

Before I discovered the restaurant’s website changed its opening date to May, I tweeted my guess of the actual opening date to be June 4. Let me know what your guess is for Station 4’s opening (the first day with paying customers) in the comments and whoever is first to correctly guess the exact opening date (Station 4 employees excluded!) will get a drink on me at the upcoming 3rd anniversary blog happy hour (more details about the happy hour coming soon).

And Z-Burger…all I know is they are supposed to open “in a few months” but once I hear something more definite, I WILL let you know, so stop asking, ok? :-)

Waterfront Station Construction Photos

I took the above photo of the patio area in front of the Waterfront Station Safeway yesterday, which looks to be just about complete, except for tables and chairs that may be installed.  Landscaping is in place and doors have been added from the elevator bank inside Safeway to the patio area. The EPA tower lurks in the background, which is supposed to be re-skinned and repurposed as a residential building, along with its sister building on the other side of Waterfront Station.  I've been hearing chatter recently about this building getting underway relatively soon since the multifamily market is heating up in DC.

Here is a photo of construction back in early February. The patio area has been under construction for a few months since work on the parking garage below it was completed earlier this year. The old Safeway next door was demolished last summer, just a few months after the new store opened. Last spring while I was on a sneak peek tour of the new Safeway, Craig Muckle told me the patio area would open about a year from then, so it looks like he was on target with that date.

The SE parcel fronting M Street will one day become an office building, but for now, it will be a grassy area, similar to the ones on the NE & NW parcels closer to I Street. The SW parcel will remain a blacktop surface for now since Bank of America will be staying in their trailer until their lease ends in December 2012.  While the NE & NW parcels have not been used for regular interim uses thus far, that may change soon (at least on the District-owned NE parcel).

Station 4 and Z-Burger build-outs continue on the west side of 4th Street.  I was told a couple weeks ago by Med Lahlou that Station 4 is now aiming for a mid-April opening and the last I heard about Z-Burger was it's planning on opening in May. Brown paper has covered up most of the windows at Station 4, which seems to be further along than Z-Burger.

Station 4 to be "White Tablecloth Without the White Tablecloths"

New ANC 6D commissioner Bob Craycraft is providing his single-member district constituents (6D01) a monthly electronic newsletter highlighting activity in that part of the ANC. One of the items in the newsletter includes some intel about what is planned at Station 4, the new bistro coming to Waterfront Station on 4th Street. Above is an older photo of the build-out from late January. Craycraft describes the interior plan as follows:

Rather than the traditional wood-paneled pub/sports bar design, Station 4 looks to be very contemporary and uses plenty of wood, metal, glass, and even stone to echo the modernist architecture of Southwest.

Also, the menu appears to be more upscale than other restaurants owned by the operators (like Tunnicliffs and Stoney's). Station 4 is looking for an early April opening and Z-Burger is supposed to open by May, or sooner. A fourth food establishment is supposedly close to a lease agreement with the landlord and ANC Chair Ron McBee mentioned to me at the CBCC summit on Saturday that an AT&T Wireless store is supposed to open. My guess is the AT&T Wireless store will open in the vacant retail space in the 1100 4th Street building (the one with the green door). I'll post about other items from Craycraft's e-newsletter throughout the week.

Restaurant Build-Out Inches Closer to Completion

More progress has been made to the storefronts at Waterfront Station reserved for Station 4 and Z-Burger. More windows have been exposed along 4th Street and along the side facing the patio area, which according to the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) public hearing notice posted on the front door of Station 4, will accommodate up to 70 seats. Station 4 is applying for a Class C restaurant license with a summer garden, which means wine, beer, and spirits can be served. Proposed hours of operation of the restaurant are as follows:

Sunday - Thursday: 11am - 2am

Friday - Saturday: 11am - 3am

The hearing notice proposes that alcohol can be purchased during these hours and outdoor seating to be allowed daily from 11am - 12am. Alcohol in the outside patio could be permitted at all times the patio area is open. Live entertainment at the restaurant would be permitted Sunday - Thursday nights from 9pm to 1:30am and on Friday & Saturday nights from 9pm to 2:30am. The ABRA hearing is scheduled for March 14th. There's no update on exactly when Station 4 and Z-Burger will open, but once I hear something, I'll let you all know.

Demolition and Build-Out

Earlier this week, demolition began at the Hogate's building, located along the Southwest Waterfront at 800 Water Street. At this month's ANC 6D meeting, David Roberts from the District government said permits would be pulled the week of December 14th to demolish the building and it would be gone by mid-January. Judging by the photo at the top of this post, they are on schedule. Demolition will pave the way for an event space at the site next Spring, including the possibility that the Washington Kastles World Team Tennis organization will have a temporary "stadium" and play there in July. The event space will be temporary, of course, since the section of the waterfront from 7th Street to 9th Street is slated for construction by the end of 2012. The first event scheduled for the new event space will be festivities surrounding the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which will take place from March 26 - April 10, 2011. In prior years, the Prelude to the Fireworks festival and fireworks show have taken place on the Southwest Waterfront.

Meanwhile, work continues at Waterfront Station to build out spaces for Station 4 and Z-Burger, which will open at the 1101 4th Street building in the first quarter of 2011. Station 4 will occupy the southeastern corner of the building and will be approximately 4,000 square feet. Six large glass doors have been installed to allow access to the outdoor seating planned for the restaurant. In total, there will be space for about 200 diners. Z-Burger will be located on the southwest corner of the building. Lots of glass has been put up at both restaurants, so it looks like there will be ample natural light in those spaces. After these two restaurants open, there will still be four retail spots available at the first phase of Waterfront Station - one of which will be for a bank.

Station 4 to Open by January

It looks like we’ll have to wait about seven months for Station 4 to open, the new 4,000 square foot sit-down restaurant to be located at Waterfront Station. According to proprietor Med Lahlou, there will be enough seating for about 200 diners, including an outdoor patio and private room for events. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner, as well as serve brunch on weekends. Station 4 will be in the southeast corner of the 1101 4th Street office building, next to Z-Burger.